UPDATE: Kesha is confirmed to perform at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 22.
Good news — Kesha will have the opportunity to perform at this Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards after all.
Dr. Luke’s record label, Kemosabe, released the following statement on Thursday (May 19). “Kesha’s performance on the Billboard Music Awards was always approved, in good faith. Approval was only suspended when Kemosabe learned Kesha was to use the performance as a platform to discuss the litigation. Now that Kemosabe has obtained assurances, that it is relying upon, from Kesha, her representatives and Dick Clark Productions that neither Kesha nor her supporters will use the performance as such a platform, the approval has been restored.”
On Tuesday (May 17), dick clark productions released a statement saying Kesha was, as of that time, unable to perform on the 2016 Billboard Music Awards after Kemosabe rescinded its permission. “Kesha accepted an invitation to perform on the show and she received written approval from Dr. Luke’s record label, Kemosabe Records,” dick clark productions said. “Kemosabe subsequently rescinded its approval following a media report on Wednesday May 11 regarding Kesha’s appearance on the BBMAs.”
Kesha took to Instagram shortly thereafter to explain her BBMAs performance wasn’t intended as a statement on her legal dispute with Dr. Luke, as previously rumored online. Instead, she told the world she had intended to cover Bob Dylan, one of her favorite songwriters. “I just wanted to make very clear that this performance was about me honoring one of my favorite songwriters of all time and has never had anything at all to do with Dr. Luke,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was never going to use a picture of him, speak of him or allude to my legal situation in any way. I simply wanted to sing a song I love to honor an artist I have always looked up to. thank u all for the continued support.”
On Wednesday (May 18), Kesha performed a cover of Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me, Babe” on stage with Ben Folds in Los Angeles.
The owner of The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard has an ownership stake in dick clark productions, which produces the Billboard Music Awards.
